Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14685, Joseph Emerson, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Emerson, Joseph Rebecca
W. 14685
CONTENTS

4876
Massachusetts
Joseph Emerson
of Worcester in the State of Mass who was a Sgt  Vols in the Company commanded by Captain Batchelder of the Batt commanded by Col Bridges in the Mass line for 3 Mos  Sergeant 6 " Damascus  Sergeant 6 " 29 days  Detached
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachu at the rate of 13 2/3 Dollars 90 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 st day of June 1833 and sent Wm D. G. Sturtevant House of Reps
Arrears to 14th of Sept 1832 $194.35 Pens ant . allowance ending 4 Mar '38 66.45 $260.80
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by N. C. Adams Clerk, Book D Vol. 2a Page 48
See letter to J. Wales 13 June 1839.
83 N. C. Adams

Massachusetts 3150 3150
Rebecca Emerson nee 1817 who died on the 5 Sept 1837 widow of Joseph Emerson, 1817 a pensioner under the act of 1832 who died on the 30 January 1837 of Worcester (in the State of Mass. who was a Sgt & Lt in the Comp y commanded by Captain Batchelder of the Reg t commanded by Col. Bridges in the Mass. line for 3 mos. Service 5 - 1 st Master Sgt. 6 - 2 nd Lt & 2 nd Master
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass. at the rate of 13 2 Dollars 40 Cents per mo commence on the 24 th day of March 1837. Paid on the 5 th September 1837.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 th day of Dec r 1839, & sent to and Jacob Wales, Esq. Baldwinville, Mass.
Arrears to the 24 th of Sept 1837 $ 79.37 Continued allowance ordered. Payment to be made to Rebecca Emerson, Joseph Emerson, Mary Richardson, Sally Woodbury, Phoebe Newton and Elias Emerson, the { Revolutionary Claim. children of said { Act July 4, 1836 de d widow. { Section the 3 rd of
Recorded by R. M c Gandy, Clerk, Book 7. Vol. 2. Page 49.

DECLARATION, in order to secure the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
COUNTY OF WORCESTER, ss. Joseph Emerson ON this Seventh day of October in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court, before Nathaniel Paine Judge of Probate now sitting at Templeton a resident of Royalston in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged eighty two years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832.
THAT he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
He states that he was born in Reading in the County of Middlesex that his age is recorded in said town of Reading on the town Records - he states that he was living when called into service in said town of Reading and has lived there and in Royalston ever since - he states that on the 19th of April 1775 he turned out as a Volunteer to drive the enemy back from Concord, Mass. that he marched to Concord where he met the enemy and assisted in driving them back to Charlestown that he marched to Cambridge and enlisted into the service for eight months the remainder of that year in Captain John Batchelder's company to perform the duties of a Sergeant - said Batchelder's company was annexed to Col. Bridge's Regiment - that he performed the duties of a Sergeant and quarter master sergeant until the 19th of September following at which time he recd a written discharge signed by Col. Ebenezer Bridge Adj. Genl. He attests that which is hereunto annexed - He states that immediately after receiving his discharge as above he enlisted as a substitute for Lieutenant John Upton in Capt. Ezra Newhall's company which was attached to Lieutenant Col. Hutchinson's Regiment said Regt. previously commanded by Col. Mansfield who was broke for cowardice - that he performed the duties of First Lieutenant in said company until the 31st December 1775 at which time his enlistment expired and was verbally discharged by the Officer in Command that he was stationed in Cambridge and Charlestown Winter Hill during the whole of the above mentioned time - in Genl. Lee's Division
He further states that in the month of December 1776 he enlisted into the service for three months as Orderly Sergeant in Captain Abraham Gould's company, Colonel Thatcher's Regiment. that he marched to Providence from thence through Warwick & C.E. to Danbury Ct. from thence to Tarrytown N.Y. from thence to Elizabeth town New Jersey - from thence to Raraway N.J. where he was stationed until the expiration of his enlistment performing the duties of Orderly Sergeant during the whole of said term of three months.
He further states that on the 14th day of August 1777 he enlisted into the service as Quarter Master in Col. Samuel Bullard's Regiment. Genl. Warner's Brigade, that he marched from Reading to Concord where he joined the Regiment from thence to Bennington Vt. from thence to Pawlet where he was stationed a short time - half of Genl. Warner's Brigade was sent up to Lake George to burn Genl. Burgoyne's shipping - from Pawlet he marched to Bennington and joined Genl. Gates Division - remained there until the day after the last Battle with Genl. Burgoyne - then followed Burgoyne's Army up the River to Saratoga and remained until the surrender of Genl. Burgoyne's Army - from thence he moved to Albany - then to Tarrytown and remained there until the expiration of the term of his engagement which was three months and seventeen days performing the duties of Quarter Master during the whole of the time of said engagement - his warrant for performing Quarter Master's duty being hereunto annexed He states that John Norton, Conductor of Sweets, and Samuel Stone can testify to his personal services in the war of the Revolution and that the Rev. Ebenezer Perkins and Aaron Kline Gregory Esq. of Royalston can testify as to his character for truth and veracity and their belief that he was active in the Revolutionary War -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Joseph Emerson
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Before Nathaniel Paine Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester

We Stenezes Perkins a Clergyman residing in the Town of Royalston and Franklin Gregory residing in the same Town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Emerson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be Eighty Two years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Before me NATHL GADNE Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester
Stenezes Perkins Franklin Gregory
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above mentioned applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Stenezes Perkins who signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the Town of Royalston and that General Franklin Gregory who has also signed the same is a resident in the same and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
NATHL GADNE Judge of Probate For the County of Worcester
I Hughiles Wheeler Regd , Clerk of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph Emerson for a pension that Franklin Gregory before whom one of the annexed Affidavits was made, is a Justice of the Peace in the County of Worcester, and that he signed the same. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal this 18 th day of October in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two
Hughiles Wheeler Regd of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester Massachusetts

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 4 th of July 1836 entitled an act granting half pay and Pensions to certain Widows:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester County ss.
On this Eleventh day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine personally appeared before Ezra M. Barton Judge of the Court of Probate within and for said County Joseph Emerson a resident of Royalston in said County aged sixty two years who being first duly sworn doth on his oath make the following declaration in his own behalf and in behalf of his Brother and four Sisters the surviving children of Joseph Emerson and his wife Rebecca Emerson late of said Royalston deceased, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4 - 1836 entitled an act granting half pay and Pensions to certain Widows. That his Father the said Joseph Emerson was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution and was out a number of times and a part or all the time he was out held a Commission and was a Pensioner under the act of 1832 and for the proof of his said services he respectfully refers to the evidence filed with his application whereby he obtained said Pension and to the rolls in the war department. That his Mother's maiden name was Rebecca Nichols and that his Father and Mother the said Joseph & Rebecca were married the 17 th day of February seventeen hundred and seventy four in the Town of Reading in the County of Middlesex by the Rev d Calib Prentiss as will appear by the official certificate of Daniel Pratt first Town Clerk of said Reading which is hereunto annexed, he further says his Father and Mother always told him that they originated from said Reading and resided there when they were married and at the time he went into the service

he further says his Father the said Joseph died in said Royalston the thirtieth day of Janu- ary eighteen hundred and thirty seven and left the said Rebecca a Widow and that she remained a widow until her death which took place the fifth day of September following at said Royalston as will appear by the Deposition of Russell Morse which is herunto annexed. The above declaration is made by the said Joseph Emerson in order to obtain the amount of Pension which was due to his Mother the said Rebecca on account of services rendered by her Husband the said Joseph as aforesaid from the time of his death to the time of her death it being 7 mo- nths and twenty eight days for and in behalf of himself the said Joseph Emerson his Brother and four Sisters whose names places of abode and ages are as follows (to wit)
Rebecca Tucker of Gardner aged sixty four years Polly Richardson of said Royalston aged fifty five years Phoebe Norton of said Royalston aged fifty three years Sally Woodbury of Canard Vermont aged fifty one years and Elias Emerson of said Royalston aged forty eight years
Sum to and subscribe
Joseph Emerson
This day of year first above
written - Before me
Wm. S. Dutton Judge of the Court of Probate for Plummer

Joseph Emerson and Rebecca Nichols were married February 17 th 1774 by Rev d Caleb Prentiss
A true Copy from the Records of the Town of Reading attest Daniel Pratt Jr. Town Clerk
May 29. 1837
State of Massachusetts } County of Middlesex ss. } May 29 th AD 1837 Then the above named Daniel Pratt Jr who is Town Clerk of the Town of Reading personally appeared and made oath that the foregoing certifi- cate by him subscribed is a true Copy from the Records of the Town of Reading Before me Joshua Prescott Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex ss. I Elias Phinney Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for the County of Middlesex do certify that Joshua Prescott Esquire is a Justice of the Peace, within said County of Middlesex, and that his name subscribed to the above certificate is his genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said Court the fifth day of June 1837. E. Phinney

15768
Joseph Emerson
5 Mr & Dr Martin Sargent 3 do do 6. 29 days Lent & 25 mrs
14. 29
$152.90
Hn. J. G. Kendall DR

15768  BRIEF in the case of Joseph Emerson County of Worcester in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? ————  3. How old is he? 82  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. As a Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Gen.   Years, Months, Days.     Vol. In 1775-19 th April — 5 — Sergeant Capt. John Batchelder, Col. Bridges   enlist. 1775-19 th Sept. — 3 12 2 nd Master Genl. H. Gates   enlisted 1776 Dec r — 3 — Sergeant Capt. E. Newhall, Col. Hutchinson,   enlisted 1777-14 th August — 3 17 1 st Lieut. Genl. Lee   Ordly. sergeant Capt. Abraham Gould, Col. Thatcher   2 nd Master Col. Samuel Bullard, Genl. Warner,   Genl. Gates.  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Saratoga N.Y. Concord, Mass.  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Middlesex City. Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional, 3 witnesses & documentary  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so. in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. Waugh Examining Clerk. June. 23. 1833.

Joseph Emerson Mr. F. 14,685- Mass.

Concord 14 Aug t 1777
To M c Joseph Emerson
We reposing especial Trust and confidence In your patriotism, Valor, Conduct and fidelity Do by these presents constitute and appoint You to be Quarters Master to our Regiment You are therefore Carefully and Diligently to Discharge the Duty of a Quarters Master By Doing and performing all manner of Things therein to Belonging and we Do by strict Charge and require all under your Command To Be obedient to your Orders as Quarters Master and you are to observe and follow Such Orders and Directions from time to time As you shall receive from your Superior Officers according to the Rules and Discipline of war ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Samuel Bullard C o Benj a Brown Lt Coll Joseph Bryant Maj r
A decorative flourish or signature mark consisting of several overlapping loops and lines.

Joseph Emerson wid. Rebecca
✓
Mass. W. 14685
✓ Five pages of "A journal of our march toward New York" dated Dec. (mutilated) 1776, with list of names attached.
✓✓ Muster-roll of Field, Staff and other commissioned officers in Col. Samuel Bullard's regt. of militia dated Aug. 14, 1777.
✓ One paper of receipts dated Sept. 10, 11, & 14, 1777.
✓✓ Abstract of milage paid Capt. Joseph Fullar's co., Col. Samuel Bullard's regt. Mass militia dated Charsdell, Nov. 22, 1777 and signed Jotham Walton, Lieut.
✓✓ Return of travelling expenses of Capt. Aaron Jewett's co., Col. Samuel Bullard's regt., dated Scarsdel, Nov. 23, 1777 and signed Aaron Jewett, Capt.
✓ These papers have been removed from this claim for transmittal to the War Department.
S.C.A. Feb. 28, 1911
Sent to War Dept Jan. 10, 1911

49 3/4 Jacob Waldo 14 Oct 39 To same Oct 25, 1839.
ack 4 July 36

Camp at ... ... ... ...

I Russell Morse of Royalston in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged fifty two years Do testify and say that I have resided in said Royalston over thirty years and during that period lived within about three fourths of a mile of Joseph Emerson late of said Royalston deceased. The said Joseph was a Prisoner under the act of 1832. The said Joseph died January the thirtieth eighteen hundred and thirty seven and left a widow by the name of Rebecca Emerson the said Rebecca died the fifth day of September following I well remember the time that each of them died as I attended the Funeral of each I was Administrator on the estate of the said Joseph I was also well acquainted with the surviving Children of the said Joseph and Rebecca there are now living two sons and four Daughters whose names and places of abode I abode are as follows 1 st Rebecca 2 d Joseph 3 d Polly 4 th Phebe 5 th Sally 6 th Elias. The said Rebecca married a man by the name of Tucker and now lives in Gardner in said County, the said Joseph now resides in said Royalston, the said Polly married a man by the name of Lot Richardson and now resides in said Royalston. The said Phebe married a man by the name Willard Norton and now resides in said Royalston the said Sally married a man by the name of Lyfe Woodbury and now resides as I have always been told in the Town of Concord Vermont and the said Elias now resides in said Royalston on the old farm where his Father used to live. I further say that the said Joseph & his wife the said Rebecca always to me that they originated from Predding and were married at that place prior to his going into the service
Russell Morse

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Worcester ss June 25 - 1839 Then the within named Russell Morse subscribed and made oath to the truth of the within Deposition by him subscribed Before me Jacob Wales Esq of the Peace
I further certify that I am well acquainted with the said Morse and he is a man of truth and veracity Jacob Wales

I Russell Morse of Royalston in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Mass husband aged fifty three years Do testify and say that I was well acquainted with Rebecca Emerson late of said Royalston Deceased. She was the wid- ow of Joseph Emerson late of said Roya- lston Deceased who was a Pensioner under the act of 1832. the said Joseph died in said Royalston the 30 th day of January 1837. his widow the said Rebecca contin- ued to reside in said Royalston until her death which took place the fifth day of September following. I well remember the death time of the death of both the said Joseph & Rebecca as I attended the Funerals each and was Administrator on the Esta- te of the said Joseph. I was also well acq- uainted with all the surviving children of the said Joseph & Rebecca at the time of her decease, whose names and places of abode are as follows, Rebecca Tucker of Gardner, Joseph Emerson, Mary Richardson, Phebe Newton, all of said Royalston, Sally Woodbury of Concord Vermont, and Elias Emerson of said Royalston. Russell Morse
Worcester ss October 30 - 1839 Then personally appeared the above named Russell Morse a creditabled Witness and made oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit by him su- bscribed. Before me Jacob Wales Justice Peace

Worcester ss. Nov. 2. 1839 I certify that all and singular the facts set forth in the within affidavit are true to my knowledge
Frank Benton J. Poole
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester, ss.
I, Charles G. Prentiss, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Wor- cester, do certify, that I saw Mr. Benton is the Judge of said Court, duly commissioned and qualified - and that his signature above written is genuine.
In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this fourth day of November one thousand, eight hundred and thirty nine.
Chas. G. Prentiss, Register
Respectfully J. Poole

John Norton's Deposition for Joseph Emerson — 9

I John Norton of Raynston in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Aged Seventy five years Deposeth (and says that on some of the last days of April or first days of May in the year 1775 I enlisted as a Soldier under the command of Lieut. Abel Wilder of Winchendon for a term of eight months service in the War of the Revolution (and performed the duty of a Soldier during said term eight months in said Wilder's Company which was attached to Col. Ephraim Doolittle's Regiment. Genl. John Sullivan's Brigade (and Genl. Lee's Division - (and Stationed in the Vicinity of Cambridge near Boston -
In the month of September in said year I became acquainted with Joseph Emerson - then of Reading (and now of said Raynston - Said Joseph Emerson was performing the duty of first Lieutenant in Captain Newhall's Company of Lynn - which was attached to Lieutenant Colonel Hutchinson's Regiment. Said Regt. previously commanded by Col. Mansfield who was broke for cowardice - Said Emerson performed the duty of first Lieutenant from the time of my first acquaintance with him as above during the residue of said term of eight months for which dependent enlisted which expired about the last of December in the above mentioned year -
John Norton Commonwealth of Massachusetts Worcester County ss August 25. 1832
Came before me, the above said John Norton, (and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed - I further certify that I am personally acquainted with said Dependent - and that he is a person of truth and veracity. Franklin Gregory Justice of the Peace

I Samuel Storer of Fitzwilliam in the County of Cheshire being of the age Eighty one and the state of New Hampshire being of a sound mind and clear in judgement living in Framingham in Middlesex County and State of Massachusetts in the year one one hundred and eighty seven in the month of August I was drafted from the town of Framingham to go to Bennington in Vermont and from there I went to Pickett being under Col. Joseph Welch in Colonel Bullard's Regiment and General Warren's Brigade from Pickett went to Stillwater and there I became acquainted with Joseph Emerson as quartermaster in Col. Bullard's Regiment and then went to Saratoga and tarry there till the surrender of Burgoyne and from there I went down the river to Albany and from there to Germantown and was knowing that Joseph Emerson served as quartermaster and I as an orderly Serjeant during the time of these matters
Samuel Storer
Cheshire Is on the tenth Day of September 1832 personally appeared me a true Samuel Storer being a man of truth and veracity and made oath to the above statement.
The fore
Abel Durgin Justice of the Peace

Cherhimp. October 5. 1032
I Salma Hale, Clerk of the Judicial Court in said County certify that Alex Angier is a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, and I believe that the within official signature is his. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix the Seal of our Superior Court of Judicature
S. Hale, Clerk

Joseph Emerson Declaration & Depositions
James Davis Worcester Mass-
Attorney for said Emerson
15108

I Cornelius Sweetser of South Reading in the County of Middlesex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the age of eightytwo years on oath depose and say that in the month of November in the year 1776 I was serving in the Massachusetts militia in Colonel Vatchen's Regiment in Captain Abraham Gould's company & that Joseph Emerson then of Reading now of Royalston enlisted at Reading, at that time, in that company & marched from that place, through Providence, into & through the Jerseys; I was well acquainted with said Emerson & before that he served in said company as an orderly sergeant three months until he was discharged
Cornelius Sweetser
Middlesex ss. Sept 15. 1832. Then the above named Cornelius Sweetser personally appeared before me & made oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true. John Wood Justice - Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex ss. I Elias Minney Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Middlesex, do certify that John Hart Esquire is a Justice of the Peace within & for the County of Middlesex, and that I believe his name set to the above certificate to be his own proper signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of said Court the seventeenth day of September 1832
E. Minney

War Department.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that, in conformity with the 3 d Section of the act  law of the U.S. of July 4 th 1836 and joint Resolution of the 7 th July 1838, that Rebecca Emerson, die late of Massachusetts, widow of Joseph Emerson, die who was a Sergeant and Lieutenant, in the Revolution, and died on the 30 January 1837, was entitled to receive, during her natural life, one hundred and thirty two dollars and ninety cents, per annum, to commence on the 30 Jan y 1837; and that having died on the 5 th Sept r 1837, the amount is payable to Rebecca Tucker, Joseph Emerson, Mary Richardson, Sally Woodbury, Phoebe Norton, and Elias Emerson, children of said die widow.
Given at the War Office of the United States this 18 Dec r 1839
Secy of War
Examined and Countersigned
Adj t Com r of Pensions

Heirs to 4734
Rebecca Emerson da and of Joseph Mass
As July 4. 1836
Maria 1774 died Jan 30. 1837
Allow $132.90 per ann. from Jan 30. 1837 to Sept 5. 1837. 7 mo 5 days.
Cash to
Rebecca Tucker
Joseph Emerson
Mary Richardson
Phoebe Newton Sally Woodbury
Elias Emerson, children
of said da
Jacob Wales
Baldwinville
Mass

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Joseph Emerson further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? _____ IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? _____ XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? witnesses & documents XIV. †If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? yes Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? yes XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 7.
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
“Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.”

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
†QUERE XVI. Modes of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

4734 V
Rebecca Emerfor Mass.
Act 4 July 36-

Sep. 30. 1839 J Emerson
4734 by Jacob Wales
him of Joseph & J. Robinson
Emerson
Map
4 July 1836
Jacob Wales, Baldwinsville, Mass. Agent.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester, ss.
I, Charles G. Prouty, Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Worcester, do certify, that Ira M. Benton is the Judge of said Court, duly commissioned and qualified - and that the signature of his name to the paper hereto annexed is genuine.
I further certify, that Jacob Wales is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified - and that his signature to the paper hereto annexed is genuine.
In testimony whereof I do here- unto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court, this seventeenth day of September, one thousand, eight hundred and thirty-nine.
Chas. G. Prouty, Register

Joseph Emerson Mass. Act June 7. 1832 $132.90 per ann. d. 1837.
When paid? H.A.B.
Died 30 th Jan y . 1837/p st . that period off

All entered on the papers but not on the Register

WIDOW, &c.
14685 Rebecca Emerson Widow of Joseph Emerson Litt. Rev. War
July 4. th 1836 Vol. a , Page 217
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Cambridge Sep t 19 th 1775
This may signify my Willingness that the within named Joseph Emerson, have a Discharge from the within mentioned Regim. as he cannot any longer officiate as Sergeant in said Regiment — Wm. Bridger Col o
Joseph Emerson, W. F. 14,685- Mass.
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES

Cambridge Sept. 19. 1775
This may certify that Joseph Emerson, of Capt. John Bachelors Company in the 27th Regiment of Foot, in the American Army, is discharged from all further service in said Regiment, from the Date hereof. —
Horatio Gates
Adj t General